Protective device for plants, seedlings, and trees

Abstract

Disclosed is a plant protection device that combines the functionality of a solid walled style plant protector that is good for the establishment of a new plant/seedling and perforated style plant protector that is good for an established plant. The wall of a tree/plant protector and growth device has thin areas inherent in the wall that degrade faster than other parts of the same device wall. This occurs based on the weather conditions (wind/rain/cold), UV degradation, biodegradation, and other factors. Over time these areas open up, allowing air, sun light and other environmental elements to reach the plant/tree within the protector. Strategically placing the thinner areas allows for designs for different plant/tree species and applications. Applications for climatic regions—northern, aired, wetlands, etc. Other applications examples are reforestation, vineyards, windbreaks, etc. The degradation of the thin areas can be controlled by using different materials, UV stabilizer levels and other methods.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO PENDING APPLICATION[0001]This application claims priority to U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61 / 352,511 entitled “Protective device for plants, seedlings, and trees” filed Jun. 8, 2010 by Thomas Mills, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]This invention relates generally to the field of plant protectors which are placed around a plant to provide protection and a favorable growing environment for plants, such as trees.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]Plant protectors are used to protect young trees and other types of plants from foraging animals, such as rabbits, rodents and deer. They are also useful for retaining water vapor, thereby increasing the humidity near the plant to create a favorable sheltered growing climate inside the plant protector.[0004]A plant protector may also raise the temperature of the sheltered climate around the plant, which is especially beneficial during colder spring months. ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0016]A second feature to this device is a design that reduces the material needed to produce a plant protector by reducing the wall thickness of the center section of the plant protector. For a protector with a flexible sheet having a height of at least 1 foot, such as a 48 inch protector, the top 4 inches and bottom 4 inches would have a wall thickness great enough to hold the ties in place to keep the device attached to the support stake. The use of other materials can also have the same effect. The remaining 40 inches in the center is made of a thin material. Sample wall thickness differences could be—30 mil 4 inch top and bottom rings verses a 3 mil 40 inch center sections. This reduces the overall weight without losing functionality.

Problems solved by technology

In this stage of the plants life, it still needs limited protection, but needs to be exposed, so the plant can acclimate itself to the elements and not allow mold and fungus to develop as can happen with solid tubes.

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